Friday afternoon turned into a long wait for thousands of travelers at Orlando International Airport. A nationwide ground stop ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration halted every departing flight across the United States for more than four hours.
What Happened
The FAA issued the ground stop at 3:54 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, after a communications problem hit Air Route Traffic Control Centers across the country. The agency said it was stopping departures for safety reasons while technicians looked into the issue.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the problem on social media, and the FAA later described it as a temporary telecommunications outage.
The ground stop was lifted shortly after 8 p.m. Eastern. It was the first nationwide ground stop since January 2023, when a key FAA computer system failed.
How It Hit Orlando
At Orlando International Airport (MCO), flights already in the air were allowed to land, but nothing was allowed to take off. Airport officials said every departing flight was delayed. About 220 departures were scheduled between 3:30 p.m. and midnight.
At one point Friday evening, flight-tracking data showed nine canceled departures and 161 delayed departures at MCO, along with seven canceled arrivals and 149 delayed arrivals. Nationwide, thousands of flights were delayed or canceled.
Orlando Sanford International Airport stayed open, though it was also affected by the national stop on departures.
A College Football Ripple Effect
The ground stop even reached the football field. Arizona State’s team travel to Orlando was halted. The Sun Devils are set to face UCF on Saturday afternoon at Acrisure Bounce House.
What Comes Next
Even after the stop was lifted, officials warned that delays and cancellations would continue as airlines worked to get planes and crews back on schedule. Duffy and other federal officials also called on Congress to spend more on modernizing the country’s air traffic control system.
Tips If You’re Flying This Weekend
- Check your flight before leaving home. Use your airline’s app for the latest status.
- Arrive early. Lines at check-in and security may still be longer than usual.
- Know your rights. If your flight is canceled, you may be entitled to a refund or rebooking. Ask your airline.
- Keep essentials handy. Pack chargers, snacks and medications in your carry-on in case of delays.